The last time a monarch was crowned in the Netherlands, Amsterdam turned black with the smoke of burning cars and teargas. Squatters rioted under the banner "No roof over our heads, no crown on yours". Nothing like that is expected on Tuesday when Queen Beatrix makes way for her son Willem-Alexander. The ceremony, however, is worthy of note. It is secular. It takes places in the form of a meeting of the upper and lower houses of parliament, and, although the crown, sceptre and orb are laid out, the crown itself is never worn during the investiture, or at any other time. This is because there is no state church. Nor does Willem-Alexander expect to be addressed as "your majesty". He even said he was happy to have a pay cut, or pay tax. The house of Orange has had its influences over these islands – the Glorious Revolution and constitutional monarchy, to name but two. Maybe a modest, modern monarchy should be the third.